German Olympian confirmed dead after rockfall on Laila Peak

GILGIT: Former German Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier, who was severely injured after being caught in a rockslide on Lailla Peak (6,096m) in the Hushe Valley of Ghanche district in Gilgit-Baltistan, was confirmed dead by authorities on Wednesday.

“According to the rescue mission team, the German climber Laura [Dahlmeier] has tragically passed away. The mountaineering rescue team will inform us once they bring the body down. If the rescue team requests further mission support, we will dispatch the helicopter again,” Gilgit-Baltistan Government Spokesperson Faizullah Farooq said in a statement.

Schweren Herzens nehmen wir Abschied von Laura Dahlmeier 🖤

Ihr plötzlicher Tod macht uns fassungslos.

Sie war mehr als eine Olympiasiegerin – sie war ein Mensch mit Herz, Haltung und Vision.

Deine Geschichte wird weiterleben, Laura. pic.twitter.com/54CWBo4oMd

— DOSB (@DOSB) July 30, 2025

According to a statement from Karrar Haidri, Vice President of the Pakistan Alpine Club, a 31-year-old German climber was seriously injured on July 28 after being struck by falling rocks while ascending Laila Peak at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters.

How are overseas employment trends shifting for Pakistanis?

“Her climbing partner, Marina Eva, remained unharmed. Eva managed to send a distress signal and successfully descended to base camp on July 29 with assistance from local rescuers,” the statement said.

A helicopter surveyed the area on Tuesday morning and found the injured climber showing no signs of life.

Haidri said that ground rescue efforts began Wednesday, involving a team of local mountaineers, high-altitude porters, and several international climbers — including three Americans and one German. The rescue team later confirmed the death of the German Olympian.

The ACP Vice President noted that “persistent adverse weather conditions had significantly hampered rescue operations in the days leading up to the announcement.”

“Maj. Gen. Irfan Arshad HI(M), President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, expressed heartfelt condolences, sharing his deep sorrow with the bereaved family, close friends, and the global mountaineering community during this time of profound loss,” the statement added.

WNBA: Man pleads guilty to stalking Caitlin Clark

“With her warm and straightforward nature, Laura enriched our lives and the lives of many others. She showed us that it is worth standing up for our own dreams and goals while always staying true to ourselves. We are deeply grateful, dear Laura, that we were able to be part of your life. Our shared memories give us strength and courage to continue on our own path,,” said her team on her official social media sites in a heartfelt condolence message.

“We bid farewell to a remarkable person,” the team added.